Suzune Horikita pursed her lips.
The pride in her heart caused her to subconsciously feel a sense of rejection.
However, Horikita was also very clear that Subaru possessed a decisiveness she lacked.
It was as if he had experienced many complex situations before. She always felt that within Subaru's eyes lay a depth far surpassing his peers.
Horikita did not hesitate for long; ultimately, she agreed with Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's words and walked over to Subaru's side.
"Natsuki-kun."
Subaru's gaze landed on Horikita. It contained no emotion whatsoever, as if he were looking at an inanimate object.
"You should understand the general situation by now."
"Yeah."
Subaru's response was incomparably cold. Horikita merely pursed her lips again, silenced for a few seconds before continuing:
"Do you have any plans for what comes next?"
"Plan? None."
"Do you not consider the class's development at all?"
"I should have told you, right? I have no interest in rising to Class A."
Subaru answered with indifference. From start to finish, he never held such thoughts. He simply wanted to find those who could make him feel interested.
If it were any other time, Horikita would have certainly left immediately. But she recalled what happened during the previous negotiation with Honami Ichinose.
At that time, Subaru had reminded her about relevant matters. However, the Horikita of that time didn't care at all, possessing full confidence in herself. This led to the negotiation results being quite mediocre. Although they barely managed to survive the crisis, Horikita's prestige within the class had dropped significantly.
During this past month, Horikita had also come to realize her own deficiencies deeply. Furthermore, Ayanokoji would occasionally offer hints from the sidelines.
To move forward, Subaru's power is needed.
Finally, Horikita made up her mind.
"Sorry, Natsuki-kun. I want the class to go further. I know I have many shortcomings... I don't extravagantly ask how much contribution you can make to the class; that is your own freedom. I simply want, as a member of Class D, to obtain some advice from you..."
Horikita's expression became serious.
"If our class truly achieves good results later, I am willing to share the extra personal points obtained with you."
"Do you think I care about personal points?"
Subaru simply said with a smile.
His personal points were more than the rest of Class D combined. Horikita was well aware of this.
In Subaru's eyes, Horikita was ultimately just a 'fake'. Perhaps slightly more interesting than others, but that was merely the difference between an ant and a mosquito.
However...
Subaru did indeed prepare to take action in this exam. Not for the class. But to...
Sincerely attract those enemies into taking action. Perhaps only then would it be interesting. Under extreme conditions, human nature could be revealed. Maybe he would see the manifestation of some 'colors'.
"I can help you in this exam,"
Subaru spoke slowly.
"But there is a condition."
"Eh? What?"
"I want to become the class Leader, and I possess the right to use the points autonomously."
"This condition..."
"In return, I can help you win the next Special Exam."
A smile hung on Subaru's face.
Horikita looked at the boy before her with some astonishment. His tone was so relaxed. As if winning this exam were an easy feat.
"Can you do it?"
Horikita was skeptical. Subaru, however, did not pay any further attention to her; he simply closed his eyes and leaned against the tree. He didn't care about Horikita's choice.
Anyway, Subaru had his own ways to achieve his goals.
"If it's Natsuki-kun... I think perhaps it's possible."
At this moment, Yosuke Hirata walked over from the side. He had just heard the conversation between the two.
"Hirata-kun?"
"Natsuki-kun's ability is something we have all seen... More importantly, Natsuki-kun, you... are you really willing to help this time?"
Hirata looked at Subaru. Responding to him was only an expression so calm it bordered on indifference.
"Since Natsuki-kun has rarely expressed such intent, we naturally should give our support too,"
Ayanokoji also walked over and said.
Usually, Ayanokoji had an attitude of indifference, but today he rarely and actively stated his position—because before this Special Exam began, Sae Chabashira had found him and threatened him with expulsion if he did not assist Class D in rising.
In her words, she also mentioned a man who also desired to have Ayanokoji expelled. Ayanokoji's father, who was also the creator of the White Room.
So, Ayanokoji had no choice but to take action in this exam. And the first thing was to find a way to let Horikita and Hirata borrow Ayanokoji's power. It was a test, and also out of curiosity.
So after hinting at Horikita, Ayanokoji also spoke similar words to Hirata.
Subaru slowly opened his eyes and looked at Hirata. Within those dark gray eyes, there was neither the enthusiasm of 'willing to help' that Hirata expected, nor the calculation or arrogance Horikita anticipated. There was only a calm bordering on nothingness.
"Help?"
Subaru repeated the word Hirata used, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible, almost pitying implication.
"No, not 'help'. I said 'win'. These are two different concepts, Hirata-kun."
He straightened his body, his gaze sweeping past Hirata's face, scanning the Class D crowd still arguing and lost in confusion not far away, and finally landing back on Horikita.
"I become the Leader and obtain dominance over the points. Then, I will ensure that Class D possesses the most points after the competition according to my methods—if that is what 'winning' refers to. As for whether this conforms to your imagination of class unity, 'democratic decision-making', or 'struggling together', that is not within my scope of consideration."
His words were cold and direct, stripping away all warmth and embellishment. This wasn't cooperation at all; it was more like a unilateral transaction with clear conditions. And an extremely unequal one at that.
Horikita's face became even uglier. She understood Subaru's meaning. He would become the absolute decision-maker, and the class would simply be a tool for him to achieve the result of 'winning'.
Ayanokoji, meanwhile, looked at Subaru expressionlessly.
The educational philosophy of the White Room was to treat everyone around you as a tool. However... it seemed somewhat different.
Ayanokoji's goal was simple. No matter who it was, they were just tools. As long as he won in the end, that was fine. But the Subaru before him... did he really want to win?
"But, Natsuki-kun..."
Hirata wanted to say something more, trying to find a compromise.
"The Leader's responsibility is very heavy, and it also requires everyone's trust. If it is decided entirely by one person, what if a mistake occurs, or everyone doesn't understand or cooperate..."
"Doesn't understand? Doesn't cooperate?"
Subaru interrupted him, the corners of his mouth hooking into an extremely faint smile with almost no arc.
"That's very simple. Those who don't cooperate can withdraw from the exam. The guidebook says a personal withdrawal deducts thirty points. Using thirty points to clear out an unstable factor is very cost-effective."
These words made both Hirata and Horikita choke up simultaneously.
They had never thought about the problem from this angle. In Subaru's logic, class members were no longer partners needing unity, but measurable 'resources' or 'expenditures'.
"You... this is simply dictatorship!"
Horikita couldn't help but shout in a low voice.
"Correct, it is dictatorship. But I can guarantee a win."
Subaru didn't care about her accusation in the slightest, looking at her with a calm gaze.
"What is your choice, Horikita-san? Accept my conditions and let me win in my way, or refuse, and continue as you are now—"
He lifted his chin towards the still noisy Class D crowd.
"—with inefficient democratic discussions?"
Horikita had absolutely no idea. Standing before her was once a King. The Purge King who had buried countless people.
This school, this kind of exam, in the eyes of the Purge King, was nothing more than playing house.
He paused, then added a sentence, his voice very light but carrying a strange penetrating power:
"By the way, I'll remind you. Class C's Ryuen seems to already have a very clear plan. And his plan, I'm afraid, includes more than just winning the exam."
This sentence was like an ice spike stabbing into Horikita's heart. She remembered Ryuen's unsettling eyes and Class C's abnormal calmness.
Subaru was right. Ryuen would definitely not compete honestly. Facing such an unscrupulous opponent, with Class D in its current state of disunity, even basic survival would likely be a problem, let alone winning.
Hirata also revealed a grave expression. He looked at Horikita, then at Class C in the distance, which had already begun assigning tasks methodically, and finally, his gaze returned to Subaru's unfathomable face.
Rationality told him that Subaru's method was cold and dangerous, but perhaps... it was the only choice to quickly form cohesion and deal with the crisis under the current chaotic situation. Moreover, Subaru's ability was bottomless; since he dared to propose 'winning', perhaps he really had the confidence.
And just at this moment, Ayanokoji on the side spoke again:
"On the contrary, I think Natsuki-kun is a very good Leader."
"What?"
"Because the students in the class all fear Subaru. Horikita, because of the last incident, your public credibility has dropped quite a bit."
Horikita pursed her lips.
"And Hirata is more suitable to be a bonding agent rather than a leader. The students in the class are all afraid of Subaru, so Subaru is the most suitable candidate."
Ayanokoji gave his final judgment.
"I..."
Horikita clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms. Ayanokoji was not wrong.
Pride was resisting, but reason and the pressure of reality were forcing her to bow her head. She remembered her powerlessness and miserable defeat in front of Honami Ichinose, and the growing doubts within the class. If she failed again in this Special Exam, she would likely have no footing left in Class D.
And Subaru... although cold, his strength was unquestionable.
"...I need to discuss this with the rest of the class."
She ultimately didn't agree immediately, but her tone had already loosened.
"Fine."
Subaru nodded indifferently.
"You have ten minutes. Tell them my conditions. If they agree, I take over. If not..."
He leaned back against the tree again and closed his eyes.
"You continue."
His posture indicated that he didn't care about the result. The fate of Class D seemed as light as a feather in his eyes.
Horikita took a deep breath, turned, and walked quickly toward the Class D crowd. Hirata gave Subaru a complicated look and followed as well.
Behind a tree not far away, Kikyo Kushida retracted her prying gaze. Her face remained sweet as ever, but waves of shock surged in her heart.
Subaru wanted to be the Leader? And wanted absolute control? This completely disrupted her original calculations. If Subaru really took power, could she still easily influence class decisions and create conflicts like before?
Moreover... this would also affect Kikyo Kushida's own plans.
*
On the other side, at Class C's gathering spot, Ryuen also noticed the commotion in Class D and the private conversation between Horikita and Subaru.
He narrowed his eyes, a playful smile appearing on his face.
"Oh? It looks like things are quite interesting inside Class D too."
He whispered to Daichi Ishizaki beside him.
"Go, listen to what they are arguing about. Maybe you can hear who their leader will be."
"Yes, Ryuen!"
Ryuen's gaze locked onto Airi Sakura again, seeing her standing at the edge of the Class D crowd, still terrified and uneasy, as if she would be squeezed out at any moment.
His smile deepened. No matter who Class D's Leader was, no matter how they changed internally, his 'prey' had already entered firing range.
He licked his lips, the excited light of a predator shining in his eyes. This exam was getting more and more interesting.
Before that, Ryuen still had one thing to do. He turned his head and looked in the direction where Class B was huddled.
Ten minutes passed quickly.
Horikita and Hirata walked back with complicated expressions. The Class D crowd quieted down temporarily, everyone's eyes focused on them and Subaru under the tree. Clearly, a fierce debate had just ended.
Horikita walked up to Subaru. Her face still didn't look too good, but her tone had become resolute:
"The class... agrees to your conditions for now. You will serve as the Leader and possess final dominance over points during the exam. But..."
She stared tightly into Subaru's eyes.
"You must win. If you fail, or if the class suffers heavy losses due to your arbitrariness... I will bear all responsibility, but you also must—"
This was a compromise bordering on tragic, carrying her final stubbornness and gamble.
Subaru opened his eyes, looking at the light in Horikita's eyes that mixed unwillingness, determination, and a trace of burning one's bridges. He nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Are you negotiating terms with me?"
He stood up, patted off dust that didn't exist on his body, and walked toward the Class D crowd. His pace was steady and his demeanor composed, as if he were just going for the most ordinary of walks.
"You... do not have the qualification."
____
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